I’m calling today, day 0, because no hair is being transplanted. Today is preparing for the big day tomorrow.
I am glad my appointment is later in the day. I don’t need to be at the Shapiro Medical Group until 2 pm. This gave me a chance to sleep in and binge-watch The Flash on Netflix.
I left the hotel at 1:30 pm to give myself plenty of time to make the 1-mile journey to the clinic. The office is very non-descript and is located in a building with a bank, insurance company, and other businesses. I kept circling the building looking for a sign to confirm I am in the right location. Finally, I found the Shapiro Medical Group sign.
When I arrived, everyone was friendly and helpful. I checked-in, gave my lunch order for tomorrow, and sat down waiting for Matt and Dr. Josephitis. This gave me a chance to look at the unique office décor. I’m not sure how to describe the art and fixtures. The first thing that popped into my mind is The Capital Grille meets hair loss clinic run by older straight white men.
Matt, my hair loss consultant, interrupted by gaze at the decor. It was funny. When I first saw Matt, it felt like seeing a long lost friend for the first time. There is something personal about your connection because you have connected with each other through this shared experience. Our conversations with Matt is one reason we chose the Shapiro Medical Group.
After we became reacquainted, Matt walked me through what to expect. First, Matt will take my before pictures as a reference to measure progress. Next, Dr. Josephitis will cut my hair and define my new hairline. The last step will be preparing my scalp for tomorrow’s hair transplant.
- Before Pictures
The first thing Matt did was take pictures of my hairline. His advice was to smile in the photos because you will continue looking at these pictures to measure your progress. You don’t want to look at pictures of you looking anxious or sullen.
2. Meet the Doctor
After my pictures, I finally met Dr. Josephitis. I still find it interesting that after all the time and money, the first time you meet your doctor is the day he’s going to poke holes in your head. What happens if you don’t like the doctor? This was one of my biggest fears. Fortunately, I really like Dr. Josephitis. He is friendly, approachable, listened to what I wanted, and took time to explain everything, so it made sense to me.
3. Buzz head
Next, we moved on to the barber’s chair, where he buzzed my hair into a wiffle haircut using a #1 or #2 guard. I’ve never had my hair this short. I always wondered how I would look with this hairstyle. My greatest fears came true as I looked in the mirror. The wiffle makes me look like I escaped from an insane asylum. I was hoping more for a Jason Statham look, but that is unrealistic. Since the escaped asylum look is not what I am aiming for, this validates my decision to have a hair transplant.
4. Define Hairline
After the wiffle, Dr. Josephitis began working with me to define a natural-looking hairline for someone my age. I made adjustments based on his recommendations. I felt his approach was too conservative, but was a good starting point. I welcomed the collaborative approach he took to refine my hairline until we agreed on a style. I really appreciated his attention to detail to define a natural hairline. My biggest fear is a peculiar looking hairline.
Notes on defining your hairline
Keep in mind you have a natural hairline mother nature defined for you. Any good doctor will base your new hairline on your natural hairline. You are not going to look 20 years old or create a different hairline. You should aim to look your best at your age and beyond. If you need a full head of hair, your only solution is Hair Club for Men.
I wanted more hair toward my temples. However, Dr. Josephitis explained that it wouldn’t be proportional to my face. We made some adjustments, and he was willing to make additional refinements before the surgery started.
The best advice he gave me was, the most critical choices are making sure the lines are proportionate to your face to make your hairline look natural; otherwise, you won’t be happy because it won’t look natural.
5. Prepare scalp
My next post will focus on describing how your scalp is prepared before the hair transplant. Day 0: Part 2 – Preparing my scalp for FUE hair transplant.
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